Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-05-18
MEMORIAL DAY.
THE DAY TO BE FITTINGLY
OBSERVED BY THE CITI-
ZENS OF AUSTIN.
Department Orders and the Pro
gram for the Day. .,..


gram for the Day. ..,.
Do Not Forget the Day or Date,
Monday, May 80, 1887.
Department. Orders.
Department Commander Wheelock IN
order No. 2, concerning Decoration Day.
says:
Meet at your places of worship on the
Sunday preceding Memorial day. En-
deavor to secure the assistance and CO.
operation of all loyal citizens, both for
Sunday service and Memorial day. Urge
the closing Of all places of business.
Gather into your ranks all the honorably
discharged soldiers and sailors IN your vi
! cinlty-be sure they assist in tins Observ-
ance. The W. r. c. and the Sons of Vet
erans will render efficient aid if properly
| invited, and the department commander
hopes that these auxiliaries will continue
| this sacred and beautiful custom long
| after we shall have been mustered out.
So long as we remain, the post of duty
and of honor will be given to the G. A. r.
Let US leave it in worthy hands when we
are gone. Let us, in the solemn presence
of the heroic dead, renew our devotion
to the country they died to save; to the
principles of our order; to the needy and
destitute; to the widow and orphan.
Nineteen years ago, Gen. John A. Lo-
gan, then commander of the G. "A. R.,
issued the first order setting apart May 80
as Decoration Day in the following burn
ing words. This being the first ami.
versary of that great day since his death,
it is meet that his spiri, be again heard,
and below we give his General Order No.
II:
HEADQUARTERS
| GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. :
WASHINGTON. D. c., May 5, 1868.
GENERAL ORDER. I
No. II.
III The 30th day Of May, 1868, is des-
ignated for the purpose OF strewing with
flowers or otherwise decorating the
graves of comrades who died in defence
of their country during the late rebellion,
and whose bodies now lie in almost every
city, village and hamlet churchyard in
the land. In this observance no form of
ceremony is prescribed, but posts and
comrades will in their own way arrange
such fitting services and testimonials of
respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, Comrades, as our
Regulations tell US, for the purpose,
among other things, ':of preserving and
strengthening those kind and fraternal
feelings which have bound together the
soldiers, sailors and marines who united
to suppress the late rebellion" What
can aid more to assure this result than
cherishing tenderly the memory of our
heroic dead, who made their breasts a
barricade between our country and its
foes? Their soldier lives were the rev.
ellie of freedom to a race in chains, and
their death the tattoo of rebelEous tyr
amy in arms. We should guard their
graves with sacred vigilance. All that
the consecrated wealth and taste of the
nation can add to their adornment and
security is but fitting tribute to the
memory of her slain defenders. Let nc
wanton foot tread rudely on such hal.
lowed grounds. Let pleasant paths in
vite the coming and going of reverent
visitors and fond mourners. Let no van
dalism Of avarice or neglect, no ravages
Of time testify to the present or to the
coming generations that we as people
have forgotten the cost of free and un
divided republic.
If other eyes grow dull and Other
hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours
shall keep it we'll as long as the light ane
warmth of life remain to us.
Let US, then, at the time appointed
gather around their sacred remains ant
garland the passionless mounds abovl
them with the choicest flowers of spring
time; let us raise above them the dea
old flag they saved from dishonor; let u
in this solemn presence renew our pledge
to aid and assist those whom they hav'
left among us a sacred charge upon ,
nations gratitude-the soldiers and sail
or's widow and orphan.
II 1t is the purpose Of the Com
mander-in- Chief to inaugurate this OBJ
servance with the hope that it will b.
kept up from year to year, while sur
vivoe of the war remains to honor tn
memory Of his departed comrades.
By command of,
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in- Chief
| Post Orders.
HEADQUARTERS. MCINTYRE POsT No. 661
! DEPT OF MINI. II. A, r.,
/ AUSTIN, MINI, MAY 16, 1851
! COMRA DES:- a-.s -: .-.. =. ~ II
Your attention is called to Memorial Order
from National and Department Headquarters
in this weeks issue of the local press, also t.
the original order Of our beloved comrade, JON
A. LOGAN, establishing Memorial Day.
During the year, thousands of our late asso
oiates in arms have biyouaced on those sylvan
plains in whose "low green tents the curtain
7 never outward swing"
Let us, on the 30th Of Nav, gather reverentl!
around the mounds where are the ashes Of ou
heroic dead, and place upon them the fragran
emblems of our undying love for them an,
the cause for which they died.
"Coyer them over with beautiful flowers,
Deck them with garlands, those brothers Of ours
Lying 80 silent by night and by day,
S1Gnnino tho vna ara nf their. manhood avav - f